Dry-battery cell.



No. 836,480. PATENTE NOV. 20, 1906. J. W. BROWN.

DRY BATTERY CELL.

APPLIOATION FILED sEPT.14, 1906.

@i j@ 4 w A"UNrrnD sTA'grvns PAirnN'r OFFICE.

JOHN W.. BROWN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF New JESEY.

DRY-BATTERY .CELL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 20, 1906.

Application led September 14, 1906. vSerial No.'384,604.

. the following is a full, clear, and exact description.`

The object of this invention is to increase the efficiency and to prolong the useful life of dry-battery cells. In such 'cells as they have been heretofore constructed the internal resistance is greatest near the bottom of the cell and becomes gradually less toward the top of the cell. Consequently the current-flow is greatest near the vtop of the cell and is much less than it should be near the bottom of the cell, and, moreover, in consequence of the conditions above noted such cells generally wear out and become useless because the zinc can is corroded or eaten through near its top before there has been any considerable consumption of the zinc near the'bottom thereof.

In a dry cell constructed according to my invention the faults above noted have been corrected, and the invention, to which such correction is due, consists in making the zinc can and carbon electrode ofsuch shapes relatively that the internal resistanceto the current-flow between the binding-post on the carbon electrode and all points on the zinc can is substantially uniform.

The invention consists not only in the construction broadly defined as above, but also in the specific characteristics of construction shown 1n the drawings and hereinafter described, all as ointed outpin the claims.

.In the drawlngs, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view of a vdry cell embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same. y

The particular embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings is the best construction now known to me for obtaining the result sought for-viz., for gradually shortening the distance between the carbon electrode and zinc can from the top downward to compensate for the increasing distance along the carbon electrode from the binding-post thereon. 4

vReferring to the parts by letters, A represents the'zinc can, whichv serves not only as`v the positive electrode, but as the containing.

lous lining of the can; D, the battery-filling;

vessel; B, the carbon electrode; C, the bibuand a and b, the binding-posts, which are respectively secured to the upper edge of the zinc can and the protruding upper end of the carbon electrode. These parts are always found in dry batteries, and those shown in the drawings are constructed and arranged in the ordinary manner except that the zinc can is of gradually-decreasing diameter from the top downward and the carbon electrode is of gradually-increasing diameter. The result is clearly a shortening of the distance between them, and a consequent reduction of the resistance to the current-flow between them. Obviously increasing the diameter of the carbon and decreasing the diameter of the can independently contribute to shortening the distance between them, and clearly either change in shape could be relied upon entirely to produce the result. It is evident, therefore, that as there is an increasing resistance tol the current-how between the binding-post on the carbon electrode and points thereon farther away from said binding-post so there is a decreasing resistance to the current-flow betweensaid points and the zinc can. The

parts should be constructed so that, as nearv as may be, the increase and decrease of resistance to and fiom any point on the carbon electrode should be equal. -The resistance in the zinc is so slight as to require no consideration.

When a cell is constructed substantially as specified, the current will be increased. It will be uniformly distributed throughout the cell.

The corrosion of the zinc can will be uniform, and consequently the life of the cell will be prolonged.

As stated, the embodiment of the invention shown .in the drawings is in my judgment the best embodiment of the invention for obtaining the desired results; but itis evident that it is not the only means for obtaining the result or the only manner in which the invention may be embodied. l

`Having described my invention, I claim- ,1., A dry battery having its parts so djsposed that the total internal resistanceJ between the two binding-posts through the electrodes and electrolyte 'will be substantiallythe same along all paths of the current.

2. A dry battery having its binding-posts v on the proximate 'ends of the electrodes, .said

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closed electrode placed therein, a suitable battery-filling within the inclosing electrode around'the inclosed electrode, and bindingposts on the electrodes, the internal resistance to the current-flow between the bindingpost on one electrode and all points on the other electrode being substantially uniform.

4. A dry-battery cell comprising an inclosing electrode, a bibulous lining therefor, an inclosed electrode placed within said inclosing electrode, and a battery-filling between the inclosed electrode and bibulous lining, the said electrodes being shaped so that the distance between them. gradually decreases downward from the end of the cell at which the binding-posts are located, for the purpose of decreasing the resistance to current-flow between them to compensate more or less for the increased resistance in the carbon electrode.

5. A dry-battery cell comprising a zinc can, a bibulous lining therefor, a carbon electrode which is Centrally placed in said can, and is of gradually-increasing diameter from its upper to its lower end7 and a suitable battery-filling packed within the can around said electrode.

6. A dry-battery'cell having an outer zinc can which is of gradually-decreasing diameter from the top downward, and having a centrally-placed carbon electrode therein which is of gradually-increasing diameter from the top downward.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aIiX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. BROWN. l/Vitnesses:

D. L. ORDWAY, H. K. RICHARDSON. 

